Fardy, Alexander back new blood to fire against Tahs

Old cards Ben Alexander and Scott Fardy are both preparing for what shapes as the biggest game of the season when the UC Brumbies attempt to halt the Waratahs progress in Sydney on Saturday night.

A win to the Waratahs would almost certainly wrap up the Australian Conference top spot on Saturday night, with the Sydney outfit holding a game in hand sitting three points clear of the UC Brumbies.

Fardy said the players who had been bought into the squad had the ability and training to a job on the Waratahs and they were excited by the prospect of facing off against them this weekend.

“This squad’s been together for quite a long time now and everyone knows their role, including the guys coming through, Fardy said.

“I back the guys who we’ve got coming off the bench, whoever they might be. It’s about opportunity, for whoever comes into that game at hooker be it Ruaidhri Murphy or Luke Holmes, who ever starts has a chance to stamp themselves on the game.

“You can’t be Steve Moore, you can’t be Siliva Siliva but those guys can play their own game, to the best of their ability and make an impact on this game.”

Alexander was also positive about his side’s chance of running down the Australian Conference front runners. He said injuries were just part of the game and it would be business as usual this week leading to Sydney.

“We’ve had a really good program here, not just with the main squad but the fringe guys have all been training their asses off and they’ll be ready to go,” Alexander said.

“There are some genuine options there at hooker. Ruaidhri played there just last weekend in the 10s and Luke Holmes has played quite a bit of Super Rugby and he’s experienced there and a very good line-out thrower.

“All we need is their best efforts, for the rest of us to pick up the slack and we’ll be ok.”

Both Sydney born, Alexander and Fardy have spent their earlier years playing in light blue – Alexander at schoolboy level and Fardy for the Waratahs Academy.

Earning a fulltime contract in 2008, Alexander has since gone on to become one of the club’s most experienced players and behind Clyde Rathbone has been part of the match-day squad for longer than any of other current players.

Fardy was a late bloomer, going through the motions at the Waratahs and Western Force Academy before settling into life in Japan and then the UC Brumbies, in 2012.